Does Bill O'Brien's new contract signal NFL return? Chuck Burkhart defends Penn State football culture, and more

Does Bill O'Brien's new contract indicate that an NFL return could happen sooner rather than later? Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com, 2012

Today's big Penn State football news is Bill O'Brien's new contract and nearly $1 million raise. But NFL.com, Nittany Lines and Bob Flounders of PennLive don't believe the monetary hike is the contract's most important point. All three believe that the real key to the renegotiation is the smaller NFL buyout.

In other contract news, Penn State student and Delaware Online writer Lindsey Smith believes it's too much too soon for O'Brien while iSports Times characterizes the contract as desperate money tossed around by a desperate team.

In non-contract news, former PSU TE Kevin Haplea is out for the season, Chuck Burkhart is the latest to defend Joe Paterno's name and StateCollege.com looks at dark horse contributors.